Farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors for treating arthropathies

ABSTRACT

The present invention is concerned with the finding that farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors are useful for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for treating arthropathies such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenile arthritis, and gout.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP99/04546 filed Jun. 30, 1999, which claims priority from EP99202258.4, filed Jul. 6, 1998, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention is concerned with the finding that farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors are useful for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for treating arthropathies such as, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenile arthritis, and gout.

In Arthritis and Rheumatism, 40 (9), 1997, 1636-1643, Roivanen et al. describe H-ras oncogene point mutations in arthritic (and in healthy) synovium. Mutations in codon 13 and unexpectedly also in codon 14 could be detected in arthritic synovia from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and other arthropathies, but also in the synovia of controls without any joint disease. Whether the mutations have any importance in the pathogenesis of joint diseases therefore remains unanswered.

WO-97/21701 describes the preparation, formulation and pharmaceutical properties of farnesyl protein transferase inhibiting (imidazoly-5-yl)methyl-2-quinolinone derivatives of formulas (I), (II) and (III), as well as intermediates of formula (II) and (HI) that are metabolized in vivo to the compounds of formula (I). The compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III) are represented by

the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

the dotted line represents an optional bond;

X is oxygen or sulfur;

R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₁₂alkyl, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, quinolinylC₁₋₆alkyl, pyridylC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical of formula -Alk¹-C(═O)—R⁹, -Alk¹-S(O)—R⁹ or -Alk¹-S(O)₂—R⁹,

 wherein

Alk¹ is C₁₋₆alkanediyl,

R⁹ is hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, amino, C₁₋₈alkylamino or C₁₋₈alkylamino substituted with C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl;

R², R³ and R¹⁶ each independently are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl-oxy, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyloxy, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar²oxy, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C₂₋₆alkenyl, 4,4-dimethyloxazolyl; or when on adjacent positions R² and R³ taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH₂—O—  (a-1),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—O—  (a-2),

—O—CH═CH—  (a-3),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—  (a-4),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—  (a-5),

or

—CH═CH—CH═CH—  (a-6);

R⁴ and R⁵ each independently are hydrogen, halo, Ar¹, C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, amino, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylS(O)C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkylS(O)₂C₁₋₆alkyl;

R⁶ and R⁷ each independently are hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, Ar²oxy, trihalomethyl, C₁₋₆alkylthio, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, or when on adjacent positions R⁶ and R⁷ taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH₂—O—  (c-i),

or

—CH═CH—CH═CH—  (c-2);

R⁸ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, cyano, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, cyanoC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, carboxyC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)-aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, imidazolyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, aminocarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical of formula

—O—R¹⁰  (b-1),

—S—R¹⁰  (b-2),

—N—R¹¹R¹²  (b-3),

 wherein

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyiC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical or formula -Alk²-OR¹³ or -Alk²-NR¹⁴R¹⁵;

R¹¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₁₂alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹² is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylaminocarbonyl, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, a natural amino acid, Ar¹carbonyl, Ar²C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, aminocarbonyicarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, aminocarbonyl, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonylamino, or a radical or formula -Alk²-OR¹³ or -Alk²-NR¹⁴R¹⁵;

 wherein

Alk² is C₁₋₆alkanediyl;

R¹³ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹⁴ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹⁵ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹⁷ is hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, Ar¹;

R¹⁸ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo;

R¹⁹ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl;

Ar¹ is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo; and

Ar² is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo.

WO-97/16443 concerns the preparation, formulation and pharmaceutical properties of farnesyl protein transferase inhibiting compounds of formula (IV), as well as intermediates of formula (V) and (VI) that are metabolized in vivo to the compounds of formula (IV). The compounds of formulas (IV), (V) and (VI) are represented by

the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein the dotted line represents an optional bond;

X is oxygen or sulfur;

R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₁₂alkyl, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, quinolinylC₁₋₆alkyl, pyridylC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical of formula -Alk¹-C(═O)—R⁹, -Alk¹-S(O)—R⁹ or -Alk¹-S(O)₂—R⁹,

 wherein

Alk¹ is C₁₋₆alkanediyl,

R⁹ is hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, amino, C₁₋₈alkylamino or C₁₋₈galkylamino substituted with C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl;

R² and R³ each independently are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, amino-C₁₋₆alkyloxy, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyloxy, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar²oxy, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C₂₋₆alkenyl; or

when on adjacent positions R² and R³ taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH₂—O—  (a-1),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—O—  (a-2),

—O—CH═CH—  (a-3),

 —O—CH₂—CH₂—  (a-4),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—  (a-5),

or

—CH═CH—CH═CH—  (a-6);

R⁴ and R⁵ each independently are hydrogen, Ar¹, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, amino, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylS(O)C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkylS(O)₂C₁₋₆alkyl;

R⁶ and R⁷ each independently are hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or Ar²oxy;

R⁸ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, cyano, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyl-carbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, cyanoC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy-carbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)-aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, aminocarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylthioC₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo;

R¹¹ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl;

Ar¹ is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl,hydroxy,amino,C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo;

Ar² is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl,hydroxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo.

PCT/EP98/01296, filed Mar. 3, 1998, concerns the preparation, formulation and pharmaceutical properties of farnesyl protein transferase inhibiting compounds of formula (VII)

the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts and the stereochernically isomeric forms thereof, wherein the dotted line represents an optional bond;

X is oxygen or sulfur;

—A— is a bivalent radical of formula

—CH═CH— (a-1), —CH₂—S— (a-6), —CH₂—CH₂— (a-2), —CH₂—CH₂—S— (a-7), —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂— (a-3), —CH═N— (a-8), —CH₂—O— (a-4), —N═N— (a-9), or —CH₂—CH₂—O— (a-5), —CO—NH— (a-10);

wherein optionally one hydrogen atom may be replaced by C₁₋₄alkyl or Ar¹;

R¹ and R² each independently are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyloxy, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyloxy, Ar², Ar²-C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar²-oxy, Ar²-C₁₋₆alkyloxy; or when on adjacent positions R¹ and R² taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—CH₂—O—  (b-1),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—O—  (b-2),

—O—CH═CH—  (b-3),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—  (b-4),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—  (b-5),

or

—CH═CH—CH═CH—  (b-6);

R³ and R⁴ each independently are hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, Ar³-oxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, or when on adjacent positions R³ and R⁴ taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH₂—O—  (c-1),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—O—  (c-2),

or

—CH═CH—CH═CH—  (c-3);

R⁵ is a radical of formula

 wherein

R¹³ is hydrogen, halo, Ar⁴, C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy-carbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylS(O)C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkylS(O)₂C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹⁴ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminosulfonyl;

R⁶is hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, cyano, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, cyanoC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylthioC₁₋₆alkyl, aminocarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, Ar⁵, Ar⁵-C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl; or a radical of formula

 —O—R⁷  (e-1),

—S—R⁷  (e-2),

—N—R⁸R⁹  (e-3),

 wherein

R⁷is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, Ar⁶, Ar⁶-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical of formula -Alk-OR¹⁰ or -Alk-NR¹¹R¹²;

R⁸is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar⁷ or Ar⁷-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R⁹is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylaminocarbonyl, Ar⁸, Ar⁸-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar⁸-carbonyl, Ar⁸-C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, aminocarbonyl-carbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, aminocarbonyl, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonylamino, or a radical or formula -Alk-OR¹⁰ or -Alk-NR¹¹R¹²;

 wherein

Alk is C₁₋₆alkanediyl;

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar⁹ or Ar⁹-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, Ar¹⁰ or Ar¹⁰-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹² is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹¹ or Ar¹¹-C₁₋₆alkyl; and

Ar¹ to Ar¹¹ are each independently selected from phenyl; or phenyl substituted with halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or trifluoromethyl.

PCT/EP98/02357, filed Apr. 17, 1998, concerns the preparation, formulation and pharmaceutical properties of farnesyl protein transferase inhibiting compounds of formula (VIII)

the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

the dotted line represents an optional bond;

X is oxygen or sulfur;

R¹ and R² each independently are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyloxy, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyloxy, Ar¹, Ar¹C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹oxy or Ar¹C₁₋₆alkyloxy;

R³ and R⁴ each independently are hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, Ar¹oxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, trihalomethyl or trihalomethoxy;

R⁵ is hydrogen, halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, cyano, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, cyanoC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylthioC₁₋₆alkyl, aminocarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹, Ar¹C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl; or a radical of formula

—O—R¹⁰  (a-1),

—S—R¹⁰  (a-2),

—N—R¹¹R¹²  (a-3),

 wherein

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, Ar¹, Ar¹C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical of formula -Alk-OR¹³ or -Alk-NR¹⁴R¹⁵;

R¹¹ s hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar¹C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹² is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylaminocarbonyl, Ar¹, Ar¹C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹carbonyl, Ar¹C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, aminocarbonyl-carbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, aminocarbonyl, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonylamino, or a radical or formula -Alk-OR¹³ or -Alk-NR¹⁴R¹⁵;

 wherein

Alk is C₁₋₆alkanediyl;

R¹³ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar¹C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹⁴ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar¹C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹⁵ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, Ar¹ or Ar¹C₁₋₆alkyl;

R⁶ is a radical of formula

wherein R¹⁶ is hydrogen, halo, Ar¹, C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylthioC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylS(O)C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkyl-S(O)₂C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹⁷ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl or di(C₁₋₄alkyl)aminosulfonyl;

R⁷ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl provided that the dotted line does not represent a bond;

R⁸ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl or Ar²CH₂ or Het¹CH₂;

R⁹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl , C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo; or

R⁸ and R⁹ taken together to form a bivalent radical of formula

—CH═CH—  (c-1),

—CH₂—CH₂—  (c-2),

—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—  (c-3),

—CH₂—O—  (c-4),

or

—CH₂—CH₂—O—  (c-5);

Ar¹ is phenyl; or phenyl substituted with 1 or 2 substituents each independently selected from halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or trifluoromethyl;

Ar² is phenyl; or phenyl substituted with 1 or 2 substituents each independently selected from halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or trifluoromethyl; and

Het¹ is pyridinyl; pyridinyl substituted with 1 or 2 substituents each independently selected from halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or trifluoromethyl.

Other useful farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors have the structure

These farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors decrease the growth of tumors in vivo by a direct effect on tumor cell growth but also indirectly, i.e. by inhibiting angiogenesis (Rak. J. et al., Cancer Research, 55, 4575-4580, 1995). Consequently, treatment with these inhibitors suppresses solid tumor growth in vivo at least in part by inhibiting angiogenesis.

Unexpectedly, we have now found that farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors show in vivo activity against arthritis ; the beneficial effect can be attributed both to a decrease in the severity of the disease, as well as in the incidence.

Arthritis, in particular rheumatoid arthritis, is one of several joint diseases collectively known as arthropathies. The diseases are characterized by hyperproliferation of the synovial membrane in the joint, the formation of pannus, and the destruction of cartilage and bone. Arthropathies comprise rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenile arthritis, polyarthritis, gout, epidemic polyarthritis (Ross River Virus infection), psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus ; arthropathies can also be observed in Felty's syndrome, Reiter's syndrome and Still's syndrome.

Current therapy of arthropathies includes drugs such as steroids (e.g. prednisone), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (e.g. gold sodium thiomalate, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine) and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; bed rest, splinting of the affected joints, application of local heat to the joint and physical therapy.

The present invention is concerned with the use of at least a farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treating arthropathies.

In particular, the present invention is concerned with the use of at least a farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treating arthropathies, wherein said farmesyl protein transferase inhibitor is an (imidazoly-5-yl)methyl-2-quinolinone derivative of formula (I), or a compound of formula (II) or (IfI) which is metabolized in vivo to the compound of formula (I), said compounds being represented by

the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

the dotted line represents an optional bond;

X is oxygen or sulfur;

R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₁₂alkyl, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, quinolinylC₁₋₆alkyl, pyridylC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical of formula -Alk¹-C(═O)—R⁹, -Alk¹-S(O)—R⁹ or -Alk¹-S(O)₂—R⁹,

 wherein Alk¹ is C₁₋₆alkanediyl,

R⁹ is hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, amino, C₁₋₈alkylamino or C₁₋₈alkylamino substituted with C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl;

R², R³ and R¹⁶ each independently are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl-oxy, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyloxy, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar²oxy, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C₂₋₆alkenyl, 4,4-dimethyloxazolyl; or when on adjacent positions R² and R³ taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

 —O—CH₂—O—  (a-1),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—O—  (a-2),

—O—CH═CH—  (a-3),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—  (a-4),

—O—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—  (a-5),

or

—CH═CH—CH═CH—  (a-6);

R⁴ and R⁵ each independently are hydrogen, halo, Ar¹, C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl , C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, amino, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylS(O)C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkylS(O)₂C₁₋₆alkyl;

R⁶ and R⁷ each independently are hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, Ar²oxy, trihalomethyl, C₁₋₆alkylthio, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino, or when on adjacent positions R⁶ and R⁷ taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH₂—O—  (c-1),

or

—CH═CH—CH═CH—  (c-2);

R⁸ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, cyano, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyl-carbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, cyanoC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, carboxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)amino-C₁₋₆alkyl, imidazolyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, aminocarbonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical of formula

—O—R¹⁰  (b-1),

—S—R¹⁰  (b-2),

—N—R¹¹R¹²  (b-3),

 wherein

R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical or formula -Alk²—OR¹³ or -Alk²-NR¹⁴R¹⁵;

R¹¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₁₂alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹² is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylaminocarbonyl, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆-alkylcarbonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, a natural amino acid, Ar¹carbonyl, Ar²C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, aminocarbonylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, aminocarbonyl, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonylamino, or a radical or formula -Alk²-OR¹³ or -Alk²-NR¹⁴R¹⁵;

 wherein

Alk² is C₁₋₆alkanediyl;

R¹³ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₄alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹⁴ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹⁵ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl;

R¹⁷ is hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, Ar¹;

R¹⁸ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo;

R¹⁹ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl;

Ar¹is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo; and

Ar² is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo.

In Formulas (I), (II) and (III), R⁴ or R⁵ may also be bound to one of the nitrogen atoms in the imidazole ring. In that case the hydrogen on the nitrogen is replaced by R⁴ or R⁵ and the meaning of R⁴ and R⁵ when bound to the nitrogen is limited to hydrogen, Ar¹, C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylS(O)C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylS(O)₂C₁₋₆alkyl.

As used in the foregoing definitions and hereinafter halo defines fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo; C₁₋₆alkyl defines straight and branched chained saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl and the like; C₁₋₈alkyl encompasses the straight and branched chained saturated hydrocarbon radicals as defined in C₁₋₆alkyl as well as the higher homologues thereof containing 7 or 8 carbon atoms such as, for example heptyl or octyl; C₁₋₁₂alkyl again encompasses C₁₋₈alkyl and the higher homologues thereof containing 9 to 12 carbon atoms, such as, for example, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl; C₁₋₁₆alkyl again encompasses C₁₋₁₂alkyl and the higher homologues thereof containing 13 to 16 carbon atoms, such as, for example, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentedecyl and hexadecyl; C₂₋₆alkenyl defines straight and branched chain hydrocarbon radicals containing one double bond and having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms such as, for example, ethenyl, 2-propenyl, 3-butenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, and the like; C₁₋₆alkanediyl defines bivalent straight and branched chained saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as, for example, methylene, 1,2-ethanediyl, 1,3-propanediyl, 1,4-butanediyl, l,5-pentanediyl, 1,6-hexanediyl and the branched isomers thereof. The term “C(═O)” refers to a carbonyl group, “S(O)” refers to a sulfoxide and “S(O)₂” to a sulfon. The term “natural amino acid” refers to a natural amino acid that is bound via a covalent amide linkage formed by loss of a molecule of water between the carboxyl group of the amino acid and the amino group of the remainder of the molecule. Examples of natural amino acids are glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, proline, phenylanaline, tryptophan, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, glutamine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, arginine, histidine.

The pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts as mentioned hereinabove are meant to comprise the therapeutically active non-toxic acid and non-toxic base addition salt forms which the compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III) are able to form. The compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III) which have basic properties can be converted in their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts by treating said base form with an appropriate acid. Appropriate acids comprise, for example, inorganic acids such as hydrohalic acids, e.g. hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid; sulfuric; nitric; phosphoric and the like acids; or organic acids such as, for example, acetic, propanoic, hydroxyacetic, lactic, pyruvic, oxalic, malonic, succinic (i.e. butanedioic acid), maleic, fumaric, malic, tartaric, citric, methanesulfonic, ethanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, p-toluenesulfonic, cyclamic, salicylic, p-aminosalicylic, pamoic and the like acids.

The compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III) which have acidic properties may be converted in their pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts by treating said acid form with a suitable organic or inorganic base. Appropriate base salt forms comprise, for example, the ammonium salts, the alkali and earth alkaline metal salts, e.g. the lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium salts and the like, salts with organic bases, e.g. the benzathine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, hydrabamine salts, and salts with amino acids such as, for example, arginine, lysine and the like.

The terms acid or base addition salt also comprise the hydrates and the solvent addition forms which the compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III) are able to form. Examples of such forms are e.g. hydrates, alcoholates and the like.

The term stereochemically isomeric forms of compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III), as used hereinbefore, defines all possible compounds made up of the same atoms bonded by the same sequence of bonds but having different three-dimensional structures which are not interchangeable, which the compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III) may possess. Unless otherwise mentioned or indicated, the chemical designation of a compound encompasses the mixture of all possible stereochemically isomeric forms which said compound may possess. Said mixture may contain all diastereomers and/or enantiomers of the basic molecular structure of said compound. All stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III) both in pure form or in admixture with each other are intended to be embraced within the scope of the present invention.

Some of the compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III) may also exist in their tautomeric forms. Such forms although not explicitly indicated in the above formula are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Whenever used hereinafter, the term “compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III)” is meant to include also the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts and all stereoisomeric forms.

Preferably the substituent R¹⁸ is situated on the 5 or 7 position of the quinolinone moiety and substituent R¹⁹ is situated on the 8 position when R¹⁸ is on the 7-position.

Interesting compounds are these compounds of formula (I) wherein X is oxygen.

Also interesting compounds are these compounds of formula (I) wherein the dotted line represents a bond, so as to form a double bond.

Another group of interesting compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical of formula-Alk¹-C(═O)—R⁹, wherein Alk¹ is methylene and R⁹ is C₁₋₈alkyl-amino substituted with C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl.

Still another group of interesting compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R³ is hydrogen or halo; and R² is halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, trihalomethoxy or hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy.

A further group of interesting compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R² and R³ are on adjacent positions and taken together to form a bivalent radical of formula (a-1), (a-2) or (a-3).

A still further group of interesting compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R⁵ is hydrogen and R⁴ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl.

Yet another group of interesting compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R⁷ is hydrogen; and R⁶ is C₁₋₆alkyl or halo, preferably chloro, especially 4-chloro.

A particular group of compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R⁸ is hydrogen, hydroxy, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, cyanoC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy-carbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, imidazolyl, or a radical of formula —NR¹¹R¹² wherein R¹¹ is hydrogen or C₁₋₁₂alkyl and R¹² is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, or a radical of formula -Alk²-OR¹³ wherein R¹³ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl.

Preferred compounds are those compounds wherein R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical of formula -Alk¹-C(═O)—R⁹, wherein Alk¹ is methylene and R⁹ is C₁₋₈alkylamino substituted with C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl; R² is halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, trihalo-methoxy, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy or Ar¹; R³ is hydrogen; R⁴ is methyl bound to the nitrogen in 3-position of the imidazole; R⁵ is hydrogen; R⁶ is chloro; R⁷ is hydrogen; R⁸ is hydrogen, hydroxy, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, cyanoC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl-oxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, imidazolyl, or a radical of formula —NR¹¹R¹² wherein R¹¹ is hydrogen or C₁₋₁₂alkyl and R¹² is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxy C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, or a radical of formula -Alk²-OR¹³ wherein R¹³ is C₁₋₆alkyl; R¹⁷ is hydrogen and R¹⁸ is hydrogen.

Most preferred compounds are

4-(3-chlorophenyl)-6-[(4-chlorophenyl)hydroxy(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone,

6-[amino(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-ylmethyl]-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone;

6-[(4-chlorophenyl)hydroxy(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-ethoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone;

6-[(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-ethoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone monohydrochloride.monohydrate;

6-[amino(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-ethoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone,

6-amino(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-1-methyl-4-(3-propylphenyl)-2(1H)-quinolinone; a stereoisomeric form thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt; and

(+)-6-[amino(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone (Compound 75 in Table 1 of the Experimental part); or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.

Farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors can be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions as known in the art; for the compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III) suitable examples can be found in WO-97/21701. To prepare the aforementioned pharmaceutical compositions, a therapeutically effective amount of the particular compound, optionally in addition salt form, as the active ingredient is combined in intimate admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration. These pharmaceutical compositions are desirably in unitary dosage form suitable, preferably, for systemic administration such as oral, percutaneous, or parenteral administration; or topical administration such as via inhalation, a nose spray, eye drops or via a cream, gel, shampoo or the like. For example, in preparing the compositions in oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed, such as, for example, water, glycols, oils, alcohols and the like in the case of oral liquid preparations such as suspensions, syrups, elixirs and solutions; or solid carriers such as starches, sugars, kaolin, lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents and the like in the case of powders, pills, capsules and tablets. Because of their ease in administration, tablets and capsules represent the most advantageous oral dosage unit form, in which case solid pharmaceutical carriers are obviously employed. For parenteral compositions, the carrier will usually comprise sterile water, at least in large part, though other ingredients, for example, to aid solubility, may be included. Injectable solutions, for example, may be prepared in which the carrier comprises saline solution, glucose solution or a mixture of saline and glucose solution. Injectable solutions containing compounds of formula (I) may be formulated in an oil for prolonged action. Appropriate oils for this purpose are, for example, peanut oil, sesame oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, soy bean oil, synthetic glycerol esters of long chain fatty acids and mixtures of these and other oils. Injectable suspensions may also be prepared in which case appropriate liquid carriers, suspending agents and the like may be employed. In the compositions suitable for percutaneous administration, the carrier optionally comprises a penetration enhancing agent and/or a suitable wettable agent, optionally combined with suitable additives of any nature in minor proportions, which additives do not cause any significant deleterious effects on the skin. Said additives may facilitate the administration to the skin and/or may be helpful for preparing the desired compositions. These compositions may be administered in various ways, e.g., as a transdermal patch, as a spot-on or as an ointment. As appropriate compositions for topical application there may be cited all compositions usually employed for topically administering drugs e.g. creams, gellies, dressings, shampoos, tinctures, pastes, ointments, salves, powders and the like. Application of said compositions may be by aerosol, e.g. with a propellent such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, a freon, or without a propellent such as a pump spray, drops, lotions, or a semisolid such as a thickened composition which can be applied by a swab. In particular, semisolid compositions such as salves, creams, gellies, ointments and the like will conveniently be used.

It is especially advantageous to formulate the aforementioned pharmaceutical compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used in the specification and claims herein refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active ingredient calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. Examples of such dosage unit forms are tablets (including scored or coated tablets), capsules, pills, powder packets, wafers, injectable solutions or suspensions, teaspoonfuls, tablespoonfuls and the like, and segregated multiples thereof.

Preferably, a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition comprising a farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor is administered orally or parenterally. Said therapeutically effective amount is the amount that effectively decreases the severity of arthritis, i.e. dimishes the swelling and the tenderness of the joints and reduces the pain, or the amount that reduces the incidence, i.e. the number of swollen and tender joints. On the basis of the current data, it appears that a pharmaceutical composition comprising (+)-6-[amino(4-chlorophenyl) (1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone (compound 75) as the active ingredient can be administered orally in an amount of from 10 to 1500 mg daily, either as a single dose or subdivided into more than one dose. A preferred amount ranges from 100 to 1,000 mg daily.

The therapy of arthropathies using farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors can conveniently be combined with drug therapies using steroids (e.g. prednisone), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (e.g. gold sodium thiomalate, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine) and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; bed rest, splinting of the affected joints, application of local heat to the joint and physical therapy.

The present invention also concerns a method of treating arthropathies in a mammal comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a farnesyl protein tranferase inhibitor to said mammal.

Experimental Part

The following tables show the formulas of the compounds of formula (I), their physical data, and references to the examples in WO-97/21701 according to which the compounds in question may be prepared. In the pharmacological example, the effect of the compounds of formula (I) on induced arthritis is illustrated.

TABLE 1

Co. Ex. No. No. R¹ R^(4a) R⁸ Physical data 3 B.1 CH₃ CH₃ OH mp. 233.6° C. 4 B.3 CH₃ CH₃ OCH₃ mp. 140-160° C.; .C₂H₂O₄.H₂O 5 B.6 CH₃ CH₃ H mp. 165° C.; .C₂H₂O₄.H₂O 6 B.5 CH₃ CH₂CH₃ H mp. 180° C.; .C₂H₂O₄.1/2H₂O 7 B.2 H CH₃ H mp. 260° C. 8 B.2 H (CH₂)₃CH₃ OH — 9 B.4 CH₃ (CH₂)₃CH₃ OH mp. 174° C. 10 B.3 H CH₃ OCH₂COOCH₂CH₃ mp. 185° C.; .3/2C₂H₂O₄ 11 B.3 CH₃ CH₃ O(CH₂)₂N(CH₃)₂ mp. 120° C. 12 B.7 CH₃ CH₃ CH₃ mp. 210° C.; .C₂H₂O₄ 13 B.7 CH₃ CH₃ CH₂CH₃ mp. 196° C.; .C₂H₂O₄ 14 B.13 CH₃ CH₃ NH₂ mp. 220° C. 72 B.13 CH₃ CH₃ NH₂ .3/2-(E)—C₄H₄O₄ 73 B.13 CH₃ CH₃ NH₂ .2HCl 74 B.8b CH₃ CH₃ NH₂ (A) 75 B.8b CH₃ CH₃ NH₂ (+) 15 B.3 CH₃ CH₃ O(CH₂)₃OH mp. 135° C. 16 B.3 CH₃ CH₃ O(CH₂)₂CH₃ mp. 180° C.; .C₂H₂O₄.3/2(H₂O) 17 B.3 CH₃ CH₃ O(CH₂)₂O—C₆H₅ mp. 144° C.; .3/2(C₂H₂O₄) 18 B.2 H CH(CH₃)₂ OH — 19 B.4 CH₃ CH(CH₃)₂ OH mp. 254° C. 20 B.2 H (CH₂)₂OCH₃ OH mp. 112° C. 21 B.4 CH₃ (CH₂)₂OCH₃ OH mp. 192° C. 22 B.3 CH₃ CH₃ O(CH₂)₂OH mp. 198° C. 23 B.8a CH₃ CH₃ OH mp. 150-200° C.; (A); .C₂H₂O₄ 24 B.8a CH₃ CH₃ OH mp. 150-200° C.; (B); .C₂H₂O₄ 25 B.11 CH₃ CH₃ CH₂—CN mp. 154° C. 27 B.2 H (CH₂)₃OCH₃ OH — 28 B.4 CH₃ (CH₂)₃OCH₃ OH mp. 196° C.; .H₂O 29 B.3 CH₃ CH₃ O(CH₂)₃OCH₂CH₃ mp. 105° C.; .3/2(H₂O) 31 B.2 H CH₃ OH >260° C. 32 B.6 CH₃ (CH₂)₂OCH₃ H mp. 140° C.; .3/2(C₂H₂O₄) 33 B.6 CH₃ (CH₂)₃OCH₃ H mp. 180° C.; .HCl 56 B.12 CH₃ CH₃ —NHCOCH₃ .C₂H₂O₄ 58 B.11 CH₃ CH₃ —CH₂COOCH₂CH₃ .C₂H₂O₄.3/2(H₂O) 60 B.11 CH₃ CH₃ 1-imidazolyl — 61 B.21 CH₃ CH₃ —NH—CH₃ mp. 164° C. 65 B.2 H (CH₂)₃SOCH₃ OH .H₂O 66 B.13 CH₃ CH₃ —N(CH₃)₂ .2C₂H₂O₄.H₂O mp. 160° C. 67 B.13 CH₃ CH₃ —NH—(CH₂)₂OCH₃ mp. 216° C. 68 B.13 CH₃ CH₃ —NH—(CH₂)₂—OH — 69 B.7 CH₃ CH₃ —CH₂Cl .2C₂H₂O₄ mp. 220° C. 70 B.7 CH₃ CH₃ —CH₂Br — 71 * CH₃ CH₃ —CH₂OH .2C₂H₂O₄ 76 B.4 —(CH₂)₂OCH₃ CH₃ OH mp. 150° C. 77 * CH₃ CH₃ —CH₂OCH₃ .2C₂H₂O₄ mp. 166° C. 78 B.13 CH₃ CH₃ —NH—OCH₃ mp. 170° C. 79 B.20 CH₃ CH₃ —NH—CONH₂ .2H₂O 80 ** CH₃ CH₃ —CH₂CONH₂ — 81 B.13 CH₃ CH₃ —NH—OH — 82 B.13 CH₃ CH₃ —NH(CH₂)₂N(CH₃)₂ — .3/2C₂H₂O₄ 83 B.4 (CH₂)₂N(CH₃)₂ CH₃ OH .3/2H₂O mp. 200° C. 84 * CH₃ CH₃ —CH₂N(CH₃)₂ .C₂H₂O₄ mp. 210° C. 85 B.4 CH₃ CH₃ —N(CH₃)₂ — 86 B.4 CH₃ CH₃ NHCOCH₂N(CH₃)₂ — 87 B.4 CH₃ CH₃ —NH(CH₂)₉CH₃ — 88 B.4 CH₃ CH₃ —NH(CH₂)₂NH₂ — 89 B.20 CH₃ CH₃ —NHCOCH₂OCH₃ .HCl mp. 220° C. 90 B.6 CH₃ CH₃ H — 91 B.20 CH₃ CH₃ —NHCOCH₂C₆H₅ .C₂H₂O₄.H₂O mp. 170° C. 92 B.20 CH₃ CH₃ —NHCOC₆H₅ mp. 242° C. 93 B.20 CH₃ CH₃ —NHCOCONH₂ .C₂H₂O₄.H₂O mp. 186° C. 94 B.13 CH₃ CH₃ —NHC₆H₅ mp. 165° C. *prepared by functional-group transformation of compound 70 **prepared by functional-group transformation of compound 25

TABLE 2

Co. Ex. No. No. R¹ R² R^(4a) R⁵ R⁸ Physical data 1 B.1 CH₃ H CH₃ H OH mp. >250° C. 2 B.5 CH₃ H CH₃ H H mp. 100-110° C. 26 B.1 CH₃ 3-Cl CH₃ 2-CH₃ OH mp. 200° C. 30 B.6 CH₃ 3-Cl CH₃ 2-CH₃ H mp. 120-140° C.; .3/2(C₂H₂O₄).H₂O 34 B.1 CH₃ 3-O—CH₂—CH₃ CH₃ H OH mp. 190° C. 35 B.6 CH₃ 3-O—CH₂—CH₃ CH₃ H H mp. 160-180° C.; .HCl.H₂O 36 B.1 CH₃ 3-O—CH₃ CH₃ H OH mp. 210° C. 37 B.1 CH₃ 3-O—(CH₂)₂—CH₃ CH₃ H OH mp. 150-160° C. 38 B.1 CH₃ 3-O—(CH₂)₃—CH₃ CH₃ H OH mp. 150-160° C. 49 B.1 CH₃ 4-O—CH₂—CH₃ CH₃ H OH mp. 184.2° C. 50 B.1 CH₃ 3-O—CH—(CH₃)₂ CH₃ H OH mp. 147.1° C. 51 B.6 CH₃ 3-O—(CH₂)₃—CH₃ CH₃ H H mp. 164.2° C.; .3/2(C₂H₂O₄) 52 B.6 CH₃ 3-O—(CH₂)₂—CH₃ CH₃ H H .3/2(C₂H₂O₄) 53 B.6 CH₃ 3-O—CH—(CH₃)₂ CH₃ H H mp. 133.9° C.; .C₂H₂O₄.H₂O 54 B.14 CH₃ 3-OH CH₃ H OH — 64 B.10 CH₃ 3-OH CH₃ H OH .HCl.H₂O 55 B.6 CH₃ 3-OH CH₃ H H mp. >250° C. 57 B.1 CH₃ 2-OCH₂CH₃ CH₃ H OH — 59 B.13 CH₃ 3-OCH₂CH₃ CH₃ H NH₂ — 95 B.8a CH₃ 3-OCH₂CH₃ CH₃ H NH₂ (A) 96 B.8a CH₃ 3-OCH₂CH₃ CH₃ H NH₂ (B) 62 B.15 CH₃ 3-O(CH₂)₂N(CH₃)₂ CH₃ H OH — 63 B.11 CH₃ 3-O(CH₂)₂—OH CH₃ H OH — 97 B.1 CH₃ 3-CH₂CH₃ CH₃ H OH — 98 B.13 CH₃ 3-CH₂CH₃ CH₃ H NH₂ mp. 240° C. 99 B.1 CH₃ 3-(CH₂)₂CH₃ CH₃ H OH — 100 B.13 CH₃ 3-(CH₂)₂CH₃ CH₃ H NH₂ — 101 * CH₃ 3-O—(CH₂)₂OCH₃ CH₃ H OH .3/2(C₂—H₂O₄) mp. 193° C. 102 B.1 CH₃ 3-CH₃ CH₃ H OH mp. >250° C. 103 B.13 CH₃ 3-CH₃ CH₃ H NH₂ — 104 B.1 CH₃ 3-Br CH₃ H OH — 105 B.13 CH₃ 3-Br CH₃ H NH₂ — 106 B.1 CH₃ 3-O—CF₃ CH₃ H OH — 107 B.13 CH₃ 3-O—CF₃ CH₃ H NH₂ mp. 168° C. 108 B.1 CH₃ 3-C₆H₅ CH₃ H OH — 109 B.13 CH₃ 3-C₆H₅ CH₃ H NH₂ — 110 B.1 CH₃ 3-F CH₃ H OH — 111 B.13 CH₃ 3-F CH₃ H NH₂ mp. >250° C. 112 B.1 CH₃ 3-(E)—CH═CH—CH₃ CH₃ H OH mp. >250° C. 113 B.2 H 3-Cl CH₃ 3-Cl OH — 114 B.4 CH₃ 3-Cl CH₃ 3-Cl OH — 115 B.1 CH₃ 3-Cl H 3-CH₃ OH — 116 B.4 CH₃ 3-Cl CH₃ 3-CH₃ OH — 117 ** CH₃ 3-CN CH₃ H OH — 160 B.1 CH₃ 3-CF₃ CH₃ H OH — *prepared by functional-group transformation of compound 54 **prepared by functional-group transformation of compound 104

TABLE 3

Co. Ex. No. No. R¹ R⁸ Physical data 39 B.4 CH₂CONHCH(COOCH₃)(CH₂CH(CH₃)₂) H mp. 240° C. (S) 40 B.4 CH₂-2-quinolinyl H mp. 240° C.; .2 HCl 41 B.4 CH₂CONHCH(COOCH₃)(CH₂CH(CH₃)₂) OH mp. >260° C. (S)

TABLE 4

Co. Ex. No. No. R² R⁴ R^(5a) R⁶ R⁸ Physical data 42 B.6 H H H 4-Cl H mp. 170° C.; .C₂H₂O₄ .1/2H₂O 43 B.10 H H H 4-Cl OH mp. 180° C.; .H₂O 44 B.5 H H CH₃ 4-Cl H mp. 152° C. 45 B.6 3-Cl H H 4-Cl H mp. 175° C.; .C₂H₂O₄ 46 B.5 3-Cl H CH₂CH₃ 4-Cl H mp. 132° C.; .C₂H₂O₄ 47 B.5 3-Cl H CH₃ 4-Cl H mp. 115° C.; .3/2C₂H₂O₄ 48 B.9 3-Cl H CH₃ 4-Cl OH mp. 230° C. 118 B.4 3-Cl 3-CH₃ CH₃ 4-Cl OH mp. 222° C.

TABLE 5

Co. No. Ex. No. -R²-R³- R⁶ R⁸ 119 B.1 —O—CH₂—O— 4-Cl OH 120 B.13 —O—CH₂—O— 4-Cl NH₂ 121 B.1 —O—CH₂—CH₂—O— 4-Cl OH 122 B.13 —O—CH₂—CH₂—O— 4-Cl NH₂ 123 B.1 —O—CH═CH— 4-Cl OH

TABLE 6

Co. Ex. No. No. X R² R³ R¹⁶ R⁸ Physical data 124 B.1 O double 3-OCH₃ 4-OCH₃ 5-OCH₃ OH mp. 230° C. 125 B.13 O double 3-OCH₃ 4-OCH₃ 5-OCH₃ NH₂ mp. 218° C. 126 B.1 O single 3-Cl H H OH .C₂H₂O₄ mp. 160° C. 127 B.1 O single 3-Cl H H OH — 128 B.16 S double 3-Cl H H H —

TABLE 7

Co. Ex. No. No. R¹ R¹⁷ R¹⁸ R¹⁹ R⁸ Physical data 129 B.17 H CN H H H — 130 B.4 CH₃ CN H H H mp. 202° C. 131 B.17 H CN H H OH — 132 B.4 CH₃ CN H H OH — 133 B.17 H CN H H —CH₂CN — 134 B.4 CH₃ CN H H —CH₂CN mp. 138° C. 135 B.18 H CH₃ H H OH — 136 B.4 CH₃ CH₃ H H OH — 137 B.13 CH₃ CH₃ H H NH₂ mp. >250° C. 138 B.18 H C₆H₅ H H H — 139 B.4 CH₃ C₆H₅ H H H .3/2(C₂H₂O₄) mp. 180° C. 140 B.18 H C₆H₅ H H OH — 141 B.4 CH₃ C₆H₅ H H OH — 142 B.13 CH₃ C₆H₅ H H NH₂ — 143 B.13 CH₃ Cl H H NH₂ — 144 B.17 H —COOCH₂CH₃ H H OH — 145 B.4 CH₃ —COOCH₂CH₃ H H OH — 146 B.1 CH₃ H 8-CH₃ H OH — 147 B.13 CH₃ H 8-CH₃ H NH₂ .H₂O 148 B.1 CH₃ H 7-Cl H OH — 149 B.1 CH₃ H 7-CH₃ H OH — 150 B.1 CH₃ H 5-CH₃ H OH — 151 B.1 CH₃ H 8-OCH₃ H OH — 161 B.1 CH₃ H 7-CH₃ 8-CH₃ OH mp. 255° C.

TABLE 8

Co. Ex. No. No. R² R³ R⁶ R⁷ R⁸ Physical data 152 B.1 3-OCH₂CH₃ H 4-OCH₂CH₃ H OH .3/2(C₂H₂O₄₎ 153 B.1 3-Cl H H H OH — 154 B.1 3-Cl H 4-CH₃ H OH — 155 B.1 3-Cl H 4-OCH₃ H OH — 156 B.1 3-Cl H 4-CF₃ H OH — 157 B.1 3-Cl H 2-Cl 4-Cl OH — 158 B.1 3-Cl 5-Cl 4-Cl H OH — 159 B.1

H 4-Cl H OH — 162 B.1 3-Cl H 4-S—CH₃ H OH mp. 169° C. .C₂H₂O₄.H₂O; 163 B.1 3-Cl H 4-N(CH₃)₂ H OH mp. decomposes >172° C. 164 B.1 3-Cl H —CH═CH—CH═CH—* OH .C₂H₂O₄ *R⁶ and R⁷ taken together to form a bivalent radical between positions 3 and 4 on the phenyl moiety

PHARMACOLOGICAL EXAMPLES Example 1 Prophylactic Treatment

Male DBA1/J mice were immunized intradermally with collagen type II emulsified in complete Freund's Adjuvant on day 0 and day 21. Treatment of mice was started on day 20 (10 animals/treatment group). Mice were treated orally twice daily (6 hours time interval) with vehicle [DMSO: cremophor: 0.9% NaCl solution, 1:1:8 (v:v:v)] or compound 75 at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Three times per week symptoms of arthritis were scored. Animals were treated till day 36, at day 37 animals were sacrificed, blood was collected for analysis of anti-collagen antibodies, radiographs were made and paws were fixed for histological evaluation. The compound did not show any signs of toxicity and no lethalities were observed. Trained lab personnel evaluated the severity and incidence of the arthritic symptoms at regular intervals without knowing which animals had received vehicle or drug.

In Table 9, the mean arthritic score is shown. For each paw, a score ranging from 0 (normal) to 2 (maximal redness and swelling) is given. The score for the 4 paws is summed up and averaged for the 10 animals per group (=Mean arthritic score). Compound 75 clearly suppresses the arthritic score.

TABLE 9 Mean Arthritic Score Days after Vehicle Compound 75- immunization (2 ×) 100 mpk (2 ×) 22 0.00 0.00 24 0.28 0.05 27 1.53 0.60 29 4.23 0.90 31 4.65 1.03 34 5.08 0.80 36 4.95 0.75 37 4.90 0.80

Table 10 hows the incidence of arthritis. In the vehicle group the incidence is 9 or 10 animals per group. The incidence for the group treated with Compound 75 is 7 or 8 animals out of 10.

TABLE 10 Incidence of arthritis (% of animals affected) Days after Vehicle Compound 75- immunization (2 ×) 100 mpk (2 ×) 22  0  0 24 30 20 27 60 40 29 90 80 31 90 70 34 100  60 36 100  70 37 100  60

Table 11 summarizes the results of the observations for the occurrence of ankylosis as the arthritis progresses. Each paw is scored as follows: 0 for no ankylosis, 1 for ankylosis. Again the results for the four paws are summed up and averaged for the 10 animals. At the end of the experiment, the ankylosis score in the vehicle group (3.1) is clearly higher than that in the group treated with Compound 75 (1.2).

TABLE 11 Ankylosis score Days after Vehicle Compound 75- immunization (2 ×) 100 mpk (2 ×) 22 0.00 0.00 24 0.00 0.00 27 0.70 0.30 29 2.20 0.80 31 2.30 1.10 34 2.90 1.20 36 3.70 1.40 37 3.10 1.20

In Table 12, the incidence of ankylosis is given. In the vehicle group the incidence is 90 to 100%, but only 60% in the group of animals treated with Compound 75.

TABLE 12 Incidence of ankylosis (% of animals affected) Days after Vehicle Compound 75- immunization (2 ×) 100 mpk (2 ×) 22  0  0 24  0  0 27 50 10 29 80 50 31 90 50 34 100  50 36 100  60 37 100  60

In Table 13 the mean number of affected paws in the vehicle and compound treated test animals is shown; compound 75 reduces that number.

TABLE 13 Mean number of affected paws Days after Vehicle Compound 75- immunization (2 ×) 100 mpk (2 ×) 22 0.00 0.00 24 0.40 0.20 27 1.60 0.80 29 2.80 1.30 31 2.80 1.70 34 3.30 1.20 36 3.20 1.30 37 3.20 1.30

In conclusion, oral administration twice daily of compound 75 to test animals wherein arthritis is induced by collagen type II, reduces the mean arthritic score; the beneficial effect is due to both a reduction of the severity (lower score per paw) and a reduction of the incidence (fewer paws affected).

Example 2 Therapeutic Treatment

Male DBA1/J mice were immunized intradernally with collagen type II emulsified in complete Freund's Adjuvant on day 0 and day 21. Treatment of mice was started on day 30 (10 animals/treatment group; the animals were randomized so that both groups had similar arthritic symptoms at the start). Mice were treated orally with vehicle [DMSO: cremophor: 0.9% NaCl solution, 1:1:8 (v:v:v)] or compound 75 at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Three times per week symptoms of arthritis were scored. Animals were treated till day 49, at day 50 animals were sacrificed, blood was collected for analysis of anti-collagen antibodies, and radiographs were. The compound did not show any signs of toxicity and no lethalities were observed.

Trained lab personnel evaluated the severity and incidence of the arthritic symptoms at regular intervals without knowing which animals had received vehicle or drug.

In Table 14, the mean arthritic score is shown. For each paw, a score ranging from 0 (normal) to 2 (maximal redness and swelling) is given. The score for the 4 paws is summed up and averaged for the 10 animals per group (=Mean arthritic score). Compound 75 clearly suppresses the arthritic score.

TABLE 14 Mean Arthritic Score Days after Compound 75- immunization Vehicle 100 mpk 22 0.00 0.00 24 0.00 0.03 28 3.75 3.50 29 4.08 4.25 31 4.98 4.03 34 5.18 3.80 36 4.80 3.00 38 4.73 3.20 41 4.88 3.45 43 4.18 2.15 45 3.28 1.33 48 2.55 1.58 50 2.33 0.88

Table 15 shows the incidence of arthritic symptoms. The incidence is 100% at the start of treatment. At the end of the treatment period, the incidence in the vehicle group is reduced to 80%, while in the group treated with compound 75 the incidence is 60%.

TABLE 15 Incidence of arthritis (% of animals affected) Days after Compound 75- immunization Vehicle 100 mpk 22  0  0 24  0 10 28  90 90 29 100 100  31 100 100  34 100 100  36 100 90 38 100 90 41 100 90 43 100 90 45  80 100  48  90 60 50  80 60

Table 16 summarizes the results of the observations for the occurrence of ankylosis as the arthritis progresses. Each paw is scored as follows: 0 for no ankylosis, 1 for ankylosis. Again the results for the four paws are summed up and averaged for the 10 animals. Ankylosis starts to occur around day 30. During the whole treatment period, ankylosis is lower in the drug treated group than in the vehicle treated group.

TABLE 16 Ankylosis score Days after Compound 75- immunization Vehicle 100 mpk 22 0.00 0.00 24 0.00 0.00 28 0.00 0.00 29 0.00 0.00 31 1.40 0.80 34 3.00 2.50 36 3.10 2.40 38 3.00 2.60 41 2.60 1.70 43 3.00 2.20 45 2.60 1.90 48 2.90 2.10 50 1.20 0.80

In Table 17, the incidence of ankylosis is given. No clear difference between the vehicle and drug trated groups can be observed.

TABLE 17 Incidence of ankylosis (% of animals affected) Days after Compound 75- immunization Vehicle 100 mpk 22  0  0 24  0  0 28  0  0 29  0  0 31 90 60 34 100  90 36 100  90 38 100  100  41 80 70 43 100  80 45 80 80 48 90 90 50 40 40

In Table 18 the mean number of affected paws in the vehicle and compound treated test animals is shown; compound 75 reduces that number.

TABLE 18 Mean number of affected paws Days after Compound 75- immunization Vehicle 100 mpk 22 0.00 0.00 24 0.00 0.10 28 2.20 2.40 29 2.50 2.70 31 2.90 2.80 34 3.00 2.60 36 3.00 2.20 38 2.90 2.60 41 3.00 2.40 43 2.70 2.20 45 2.50 1.90 48 2.50 1.50 50 1.90 1.20

In table 19, the radiographic score of the individual mice is depicted. For each paw, a score ranging from 0 (normal) to 2 (deformation of the whole paw was given. The scores of the four paws are summed up.

TABLE 19 Radiographic score of individual mice Compound 75- Vehicle 100 mpk 0.5 3.0 1.5 4.75 1.25 2.0 5.00 2.5 5.25 2.5 2.5 1.0 4.0 0.0 7.0 0.0 6.5 5.25 6.5 2.0 Average: 4.0 2.3 Median: 4.5 2.25

In conclusion, oral administration of compound 75 to mice with established reduces the arthritic symptoms (paw swelling, occurrence of ankylosis and deterioration of the joints as observed on radiographs).

Example 3 Mycobacterium butyricum-induced Arthritis in Lewis Rats

Male SPF-breeded Lewis rats (Charles River; 225-275 g) were housed in individual cages under standard laboratory conditions (21±2° C.; 65±15% relative humidity; light-dark cycle set at 12 h). Mycobacterium butyricum (heat-killed and suspended in paraffin oil at 5 mg/ml; 0.05 ml) was inoculated intradermally at the tail base of the rats. On day 14 after inoculation, the diameters (Ø) of the hind paws and tibiotarsal joints (ΣØ14) were compared with the initial diameters (ΣØ0) and rats with a significant swelling (ΔØ14-0≧6.0 mm) were assigned to the various treatment groups (n=6; one with a moderate, one with an intermediate, and one with a high increase).

Body weight and paw diameters were measured at days 14 and after 1-week treatment at day 21. Diet consumption was also measured and the number of dead animals on day 21 was noted. Paw swelling at day 21 was expressed as a percentage of the initial inflammation at the start of the treatment (day 14). Control animals were included in each experimental session. Test compounds were administered via a medicated diet. For that purpose, compounds were mixed with ground pellets in proportion to give an approximate daily dose. This medicated diet was administered ad libitum during the experimental period. The real dose was calculated by multiplying the consumed amount of diet with the concentration of the test compound in the diet.

Based on a frequency distribution of a series of control data (n=181), all-or-nothing criteria for drug-induced effects were established. The averaged body weight change during the 1 week experimental period in the control population was a decrease of 7 g. Only 8 out of the 186 control rats (4.3%) showed a decrease of body weight of more than 21 g, which was adopted as criterion for worsening of the Mycobacterium-induced decrease of body weight gain. Only 5 out of the 186 control rats (2.7%) showed an increase of body weight of more than 10 g, which was adopted as criterion for reversal of the Mycobacterium-induced decrease of body weight gain. In the same set of control animals, paw swelling at day 21 was on the average 117% of the initial value at day 14. Only 4 rats (2.1%) showed a percent swelling below 80%, which was adopted as criterion for anti-inflammatory activity. Sixteen control rats (8.6%) showed a percent swelling above 150%, which was adopted as a criterion for a tendency towards pro-inflammatory activity. Five control rats (2.7%) showed a percent swelling above 170%, which was adopted as a criterion for pro-inflammatory activity.

In table 20, the results obtained with different doses of compound 75 are summarized

% change in Dose body-weight % change in swelling (mg/kg) # #<−21% #>10% Mean #<80% #>150% #>170% Mean 160 6 4 0 −24% 3 0 0 79% 80 6 4 0 −19% 3 0 0 86% 40 6 0 0 −9% 0 0 0 94% #: number of animals 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating arthropathies in a mammal comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor to said mammal wherein said farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor is a compound of formula (I), or a compound of formula (II) or (III) which is metabolized in vivo to a compound of formula (I), said compounds being represent by

a stereoisomeric form thereof, a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, wherein the dotted line represents an optional bond; X is oxygen or sulfur; R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₁₂alkyl, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, quinolinylC₁₋₆alkyl, pyridylC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, mono- or di (C₁₋₆alkyl) aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical of formula -Alk¹-C(═O)—R⁹, -Alk¹-S(O)—R⁹ or -Alk¹-S (O)₂—R⁹,  wherein Alk¹ is C₁₋₆alkanediyl, R⁹ is hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, amino, C₁₋₈alkylamino or C₁₋₈alkylamino substituted with C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl; R², R³ and R¹⁶ each independently are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyloxy, aminoC₁₋₆alkyloxy, mono- or di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyloxy, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar²oxy, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C₂₋₆alkenyl, 4,4-dimethyloxazolyl; or when on adjacent positions R² and R³ taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula —O—CH₂—O—  (a-1), —O—CH₂—CH₂—O—  (a-2) —O—CH═CH—  (a-3) —O—CH₂—CH₂—  (a-4) —O—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—  (a-5), or —CH═CH—CH═CH—  (a-6); R⁴ and R⁵ each independently are hydrogen, halo, Ar¹, C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkylthio, amino, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylS (O) C₁₋₆alkyl or C₁₋₆alkylS (O)₂C₁₋₆alkyl; R⁶ and R⁷ each independently are hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, Ar²oxy, trihalomethyl, C₁₋₆alkylthio, di (C₁₋₆alkyl) amino, or when on adjacent positions R⁶ and R⁷ taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula —O—CH₂—O—  (c-1), or —CH═CH—CH═CH—  (c-2); R⁸ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, cyano, hydroxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, cyanocC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, carboxyC₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, mono- or di (C₁₋₆alkyl)-aminoC₁₋₆alkyl, imidazolyl, haloC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, aminocarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, or a radical of formula —O—R¹⁰  (b-1), —S—R¹⁰  (b-2), —N—R¹¹R¹²  (b-3),  wherein R¹⁰ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, a radical or formula -Alk²-OR¹³ or -Alk²-NR¹⁴R¹⁵; R¹¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₁₂alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl; R¹² is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkylaminocarbonyl, Ar¹, Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, a natural amino acid, Ar¹carbonyl, Ar²C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, amninocarbonylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl-carbonyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, aminocarbonyl, di(C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, amino, C₁₋₆alkylamino, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonylamino, or a radical of formula -Alk²-OR¹³ or -Alk²-NR¹⁴R¹⁵;  wherein Alk² is C₁₋₆alkanediyl; R¹³ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl; R¹⁴ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl; R¹⁵ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, Ar¹ or Ar²C₁₋₆alkyl; R¹⁷ is hydrogen, halo, cyano, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆-alkyloxycarbonyl, Ar¹; R¹⁸ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo; R¹⁹ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl; Ar¹ is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo; and Ar² is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy, amino, C₁₋₆alkyloxy or halo.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor is a compound of formula (I) and wherein X is oxygen.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor is a compound of formula (I) and wherein the dotted line represents a bond.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor is a compound of formula (I) and wherein R¹ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkyl or mono- or di (C₁₋₆alkyl)aminoC₁₋₆alkyl.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor is a compound of formula (I) and wherein R³ is hydrogen and R² is halo, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₂₋₆alkenyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, trihalomethoxy or hydroxryC₁₋₆alkyloxy.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor is a compound of formula (I) and wherein R⁸ is hydrogen, hydroxy, haloC₁₋₆alky, hydroxyC₁₋₆alkyl, cyanoC₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxycarbonylC₁₋₆alkyl, imidazolyl, or a radical of formula —NR¹¹R¹² wherein R¹¹ is hydrogen or C₁₋₁₂alkyl and R¹² is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, C₁₋₆alkyloxyC₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, or a radical of formula -Alk²-OR¹³ wherein R¹³ is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is 4-(3-chlorophenyl)-6-[(4-chlorophenyl)hydroxy(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone, 6-[amino(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-ylmethyl]-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone; 6-[(4-chlorophenyl)hydroxy(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-ethoxy-phenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone; 6-[(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-ethoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone monohydrochloride.monohydrate; 6-[amino(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidatol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-ethoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone, and 6-amino(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-1-methyl-4-(3-propylphenyl)-2(1H -quinolinone; a stereoisomeric form thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts thereof.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is (+)-6-[amino(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-chloro-phenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone; or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the administering step comprises administering the therapeutically effective amount of the farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor is administered orally or parenterally.
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein the administring step comprises administering the farnesyl protein transferease inhibitor orally in an amount of from 100 to 1,500 mg of the compound daily, either as a single dose or subdivided into more than one dose.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the arthropathy is rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenile arthritis, polyarthritis, gout, epidemic polyarthritis (Ross River Virus infection), psoriatic arthitis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus; or the arthropathy observed in Felty's syndrome, Reiter's syndrome or Still's syndrome. 